Manish Mehta reports that the Oakland Raiders have an agreement in place Jets free agent RT Austin Howard.
- ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Raiders have signed Howard to a five-year, $30 million contract that includes $15 million guaranteed.
Howard, 26, was one of the top right tackles available in this year’s free agent class. However, right tackles haven’t fared all that well on the open market, so it will be interesting to see what kind of contract he receives.
Howard was rated as the No. 47 qualifying tackle in the league last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
We have Howard listed as the No. 55 player in our Top 100 Free Agents list.
Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!
Reggie we need a LT or are you sold on Melnic the pussy Watson?
Saffold is going to be the left tackle. Why do you say that about Watson?
From the outside our signings look mediocre but the raiders simply want to move on. Now to explain the over paying. When your a team like the raiders and one with so much cap players are going to demand a little more money. And you cant deny our o line of Saffold Bergstrum Wiz Watson Howard sounds solid. I give my stamp of approval to Reggie for making gutsy moves and getting a fresh start with hungry players.
Pretty solid signing by big reggie.not only is he signing a quality lineman he’s also getting more disciplined up in the trenches.offensive line coach tony sparano is the best in the business and should work wonders with not only howard but staffold as well.great sign reggie keep’em coming!
This is what NFL Network thinks…
After shelling out $42.5 million for injury-prone left tackle Rodger Saffold, McKenzie is overpaying for the No. 81 player on Around The League’s free-agent tracker.
A liability early in his Jets career, Howard worked hard to develop into a quality pass protector in 2013. He and Saffold will provide league-average security on the bookends of the offensive line at a high price.
Doesn’t sound good. We’ll see better I hope.
If the Raiders Signed Jesus Christ, The NFL Network would find something wrong with the signing. I say 2 quality signings and young (25, and 26) bookends to solidify the line.
Oh it gets worse….
Veldheer was my favorite value of the bunch, upgrading an awful left tackle situation in Arizona. Saffold looked like the most overpaid player in all of free agency by Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie. That was until the Raiders gave New York Jets tackle Austin Howard $15 million guaranteed on a $30 million contract after midnight.
Although I liked your analogy
Happy to see the nation get some OL help ! We need to be able to run the ball !! Hope they draft a OL man with the 1 round pick !
He I believe Howard was signed to start at RT and Watson may move to RG. Howard started two years for Jets is big like Veldheer 6’6 335
Ungrateful raider fans don’t even know when you get a good player in three years with the jets he only have up three sacks so shut the fuck up and be happy
I’m not sure how to read this sentence with your 4th grade grammar. #toocoolforpunctuation
Good for you. Only assholes talk with #’s
And people who speak in metaphors aught to shampoo my crotch.
Was he not injured alot?
That’s nice. I really don’t care
He started three straight years for the Jets he was never injured he’s a good player I just don’t think The Jets wanted to pay him the money
I just need to see him on the field. I welcome the new. But the losses today, outweigh. …
I hear you.atleast your team is trying to be better.im still wondering what the hell the jets are doing.
No kidding. Between Favre and Sanchez and Geno. It’s been quite the carousel. The Revis deal…Maybe we’re suckers for staying loyal too our teams.
Who is this guy? He better be s*** hot. I guess I can say welcome to the Raider Nation. Mildly optimistic loyal fan.
Where does this leave Watson? Another wasted Draft pick? Reggie needs to explain todays events to Raider Nation!
Depth player i presume. I’d like a press conference. Funny.
$6 million a year to a back up? Highly doubt it.
Probably not. I was trying to find a silver lining in this convoluted mess of a day.
Same here.
This is not a mess of a day.We have up graded our line. When you are 4 and 12 for two straight years you have to over pay just to get the guys in to build with. If you don’t over pay they will go to a team that’s winning. I loved and always went to bat for Big Al, but he left us a fuckin’ mess.
Apparently you haven’t heard that Saffold’s contract was just voided. So I guess NOW its a f*****n mess.
He is not a backup! Howard was the Jets starting Right Tackle for 32 straight starts. He is only 26.
I was responding to a another comment. I never said he was a back up.
Watson is not a waste what so ever.maybe Watson slides over to LT,howard to RT and staffold at LG.
I’m not saying Watson is a waste. I like him a lot. I think a second round pick should be a starter though.
Watson is probably sitting in a doctors office for a stubbed toe. This guy is a sick bay cowboy just like hayden. Maybe reggies has aspitrations of becoming a MD he sure is building up a good clientel